Category Archives: Water Softening

Softened water can do a world of good in a home. From reducing the amount of soap needed to wash clothes and dishes, to extending the life of a water heater, and saving on energy bills. But does softened water bode well for indoor plants and outdoor gardens?

What about the salt?

Most water softeners utilize an “ion exchange” process where calcium and magnesium (minerals that make water hard) are exchanged for either sodium or potassium chloride in order to soften the water.

The amount of sodium or salt in your household water (after processing through a water softener system) can vary depending on the hardness of your water, but it certainly isn’t “salt water”. In fact, on average, those that own a water softener get less than three percent of their daily sodium intake from drinking softened water.Read more

Like many people, I look at the return on investment (ROI) on most everything.

I’ve analyzed (and purchased) the energy-efficient light bulbs that pay for themselves in energy savings. I’ve convinced my husband to install the “high-efficiency” showerheads that reduce water flow rates, to lower water usage and water heating bills. Then there’s the rechargeable batteries and the programmable thermostat—all have quickly paid for themselves.

When it came to investing in a water softener or conditioner, it made sense to analyze the ROI, as well.

Here are a few ways I discovered the cost of a water softener or conditioner can pay for itself—quickly!!

Those of us in “hard water” areas of the U.S. know what’s it’s like to have gritty scale from water hardness at the bottom of a swimming pool. So the idea of filling swimming pools and hot tubs with soft water sounds fantastic.

Although there are pool owners who have successfully filled and maintained their pools with softened water, pool owners should understand that filling a pool with soft water is not simple. It involves a very delicate balance. In fact, maintaining the right levels of hardness AND softness is essential for a healthy pool.

Occasionally the question comes up, “Is it OK to drink softened water?” and “How much salt does a softener add to my water?”

Let us tackle this question head on: It is true –salt is involved in the water softening process. Through an ion exchange process, water softening systems replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions.

What most people do not realize, is how little sodium is in softened water.

The amount of sodium in your drinking water from a water softener system can vary depending on the hardness of your water, but you are certainly not drinking “salt water”. In fact, on average, less than three percent of your daily sodium intake comes from drinking softened water.

So while some may worry that drinking softened water will increase their salt intake, in reality nearly all sodium in our diets comes from the food we eat. Did you know that eight glasses of softened water contains about as much sodium as would be found in a typical piece of white bread?Read more

As a water softener owner, you can see the salt in your brine tank is running low and it’s time to pick up some more. Like many people, you may be baffled by all of the water softener salt choices you see at the store: crystals, block, table, rock, and pellets. What is better: solar or evaporated salt pellets? What about salt pellets vs. potassium chloride pellets? What should you buy? What is best?

First of all, only salt or potassium chloride specifically designed for water softeners should be used. Do not use dicing or table salt.

Softener Salt vs. Softener Potassium Chloride

So how hard is the water in my home?

Did you know that hard water affects more than 85% of homes in the United States? Odds are your family’s home is affected by hard water. With the varying levels of hardness, how do you know if your part of the country or your state–all the way down to your local municipal water source is being affected?

Learn more about the causes of Hard Water in our Hard Water Guide

Spring is finally here and we’re glad to say goodbye to the dry, itchy skin and tight scalp generally associated with dry, cold winter months. However, some people deal with these skin conditions (or much worse) all year long.

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that affects an estimated 35 million Americans: 20 percent of children aged up to 11 years old and 8 percent of teenagers and adults suffer from eczema.

Salt-Free Water Conditioning May Be the Answer

Hard water is found throughout the world, and in about 85 percent of the United States, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. But despite the need for water softening where hard water is prevalent, conventional ion exchange water softeners are not always the right answer.

What is the difference between the REIONATOR® and other water softeners?

Here at WaterTech, we’ve been manufacturing the “REIONATOR®” water conditioning system for more than 25 years. During this time, The REIONATOR® has established a reputation for quality and is conditioning water in the homes of hundreds of thousands of happy customers.